Hello Viderity :)
The presentation looks like a Power Point. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)
Overall, its clean, corporate and predictable. I think for a general audience it would be fine.
However, if you're trying to win over folks for mergers or acquisitions of some caliber, you may want to take it up a notch in the design department. The copy content seems to be fairly solid as is.
There are lots of places where I see room to be more creative, and I think if you're marketing "uniqueness" on the web, you need to front creativity, and "zoom" on those examples that shine.
I've added some notes, which hopefully will give you a few ideas. Overall, off to a good start, and I think with a little brainstorming, the presentation will stellar.
Hopefully my notes will give you some ideas to really wow perspective mergers :)
~ Jamie
While you're introducing a speaker, or indeed if you're physically presenting this as opposed to sending out as a marketing piece itself, this slide will probably be up on the screen for an extra few minutes while things get rolling. You really want to make this an engaging space to get viewers thinking about it before you begin presenting.
This gradient elements and circles look to reflect the logo in some way, and yet, they almost completely drown out your presence. I think the idea of these graphic elements may have been to 'focus the eye' on the logo, but simplicity and size will do that more effectively. Also, oddly enough, the question you pose on this first slide is very engaging and thought provoking; a powerful statement. Suggest creating a visual relationship between the question and the logo. For instance: - What if the logo were very large, and the question very small? - What if the question's font were huge, and the logo the watermarked background? or a footer? - What if the logo was asking the question? - What if there was an image or graphic of a pensive business person, trying to figure out how to be the best on the web, and [Logo] is a solution? So, in summary, suggest implementing more presentation & relationship between the key phrase and the logo, and down playing the blue circles.
This background is fairly generic. Suggest bringing more of your brand into this...what does it mean to be 'Viderty' ? Or, the other route, is don't try so hard, and keep these background even more simple, less intense. Just a subtle gradient shift with a logo, footer stuff?
Tags like this are great to jump start visuals.
Give this a little more visual weight. Even something as simple as bolding will add meaning.
I like how all of the copy builds up to something, following a logical progression. Might be fun to see a visual indication of that to reinforce its application here.
So, you've done some sites across various colors, which is great. However, the dominating blue on these slides corrupts the subtle color choices you so agonizingly made on previous designs. A good argument for making the background of all these slides white or very light, would be so that your samples stood more fairly on even ground, and don't require users to imaging how it would look and behave on the web. Too, along these lines, in general, the dark text on light backgrounds are more readable than the reverse type on dark backgrounds (which I consider more for mood setting and less for readability).
So, this layout is something you're showcasing to future clients. Its hard to appreciate the finer details of what you've accomplished with this layout from so far away. It might be nice to have this even further away, and additionally give us a close up of a particular section of which you are particularly proud. Check out 31three.com to see what I mean.
If this is in PPT, make sure these parts are functioning.
So, this is the end all be all. Yes, your contact information is the last slide, or close to it. But this is the whole backbone of you're goal, the point you're trying to make. This needs to be absolutely spectacular, and its very bland, and lost in the masses right now. Some things to consider: - Adding the contact information to this, or a call to action - Use an illustration to communicate the relationship idea, bring it home - Sound and look more confident in yourselves, your services
Very detailed feedback jamie, and hence I thought to drop reviewing...you covered it all so well.. :-)
@ Luke: I resemble that remark ;)
@ Prashant: Even if you think someone has covered it all, they haven't. You should still review the concept, and challenge yourself to think through the content and design in a new way to help it get to the next level. You'll be amazed how many ideas and insights for your own work you'll get when think through someone's so thoroughly.
Ya, that's very true, Jamie :-) I do get my work reviewed as many times from as many different people as possible, you don't know how many interesting things may come up or you may have missed most basic thing...
Actually I was so impressed by the details, that I was taken a back,... :-) Well, thanks Jamie, for 'reminding' ha ha
Hi Rachael
Overall, I think it's both adequate and competent for the intended job. But I think you could make improvements.
Firstly, ensure your grid remains the same for all pages. There is a tendency for your headings to change position and the body copy to alter in width. Set a grid and stick to it. Make the heading position consistent and hang all the paras from the same height. Modify the size and shape of the pics to conform, where necessary.
You might consider deleting the blue background and secondary graphic, as it really does look like a PPT presentation. It's unnecessary to repeat the theme in a printed document. And it would open up the page for a more imaginative grid.
The front cover headline should either align with the logo, or be placed correctly within your page grid. Right now, it's neither here nor there and looks awkward.
Secondly, I find this font really difficult to read as body copy, particularly in reverse. It was surely never designed to be used like this. It probably works for the headings at a slightly increased size, but I would replace it with something corporate and conservative like Frutiger Roman.
Lastly, the actual content seems to read well (I didn't read every word!) right up until the punchline. And then it completely wimps out. Your introduction said – make a wish, so I'm quite excited by the prospect – but on the final page it seems all I can wish for is a "perfect partner". And really, "We know because... Why not become one of them?" That's the best you can offer? More attention to the copy required, methinks.
Tweak it up a bit and you'll have an effective and attractive document.
Hope this helps.
Hi Viderity,
It seem like you have accomplished the MI4.... really this presentation is like a mission and you have done a great job.
I am attaching the couple of my thoughts as a notes.
Hope this helps.
Thanks, Haider
I think if you try to avoiding this oval it will have more space to play around with the typography of "want to be.. on the web?" Also, I think you can try adding an image that can appreciate your copy as well.
I think you may try playing with position of your logo as well?
You may use some icons with each heading so that your content section could be more engaging
need to play with the typography and font size so that it could be more than just a plan paragraph.
increase the gap of bulleted points
add some boundary for your thumbnail
Hi Viderity, a few thoughts and notes about your design.
Impression Because the blue is paired with grey and white the site seems very cold. Giving a touch of color to the grey areas actually does a lot in my opinion. In general the chosen colors work towards the target market. The blue tones suggest calmness, profession and trust. The overall background could be a little lighter. (Suggestion image attached)
Structure The idea to have rounded shapes is not bad but takes away quite some space. Together with the square-images (in viderity APage15.jpg for example) things tend to look a little squished. The header is very dominating due to its brightness and sharp edge. A touch of color could change a lot.
Content placement Like noted above there is clash between images and the rounded header. In general the texts are well positioned but when there is too little text it seems lost in the site body (for example viderity APage04.jpg). A graphic/picture -carefully selected- could help to keep balance in these cases.
Conclusion A nice concept and design idea. I think it needs a bit more customization. It does not have a personality yet. Looking at this I can't develop a feeling for the company, it feels like a neutral mask.
The composition of blue tones/gradients in the bubbles plays very well together. Although I think the grey is a little too bright and the surrounding blue is a little too dark.
I think this border is a little too sharp. Like this the cold white-grey dominates the page. I think this could be smoother if there was a slight transition or a less intense grey/white. Looking at this particular part feels like falling off a cliff.
Due to the sharp rounded edge and the square-image it looks like you're running out of space here - although you're not. A slight transition or a smaller light header would give more space and greater balance.
When looking at the first slide I get the feeling the presentation has something to do with internet/the web. The first question that pops up after that is why decided to do a normal presenation and not something on the web?
When looking further through the presenation it looks like a plain and simple portfolio of clients that will be used to acquire new clients. What stands out is the huge amount of text of most of the slides. Although I know you are using the presentation for printing as well this is far from optimal for presenting. During the presentation people will try to start reading all the information on the sheet and thus be distracted and not listening as good as they could. Further more when people are unable to keep the pace of the presenation because they have to read a lot you will lose their focus and people start thinking about groceries or a new car (that is not what you want). A good rule of thumb is to use a maxium of 30 words on a slide.
I would propose to make an interactive portfolio for your website and create a "presenation" presentation instead of something between a brochure and a presentation.
Before I write my somewhat harsh words I just want to say where I am coming from. Although English I have worked in Big Corporate America and have experience of this type of presentation as both a pitcher and as a listener.
Overall this is an awful presentation. It tells no central story and the message is lost in noise. Noise of too many words and noise of small print and poor contrast of blue text on a blue background. you leave the reader having to do too much assembling of messages. My suggestions should make it more direct and punchier.
A guide I always use is if the client said to you "sorry but instead of 25 minutes for the pitch you have got 6" could you pick 4 slides to punch at your weight and carry the message? Also you often need two presentations - the skeleton that you present to and the wordy one that people can read at their leisure. this falls in between and does neither job of "punching" and "informing" very well.
Too small to read, bigger font needed. You might get to pitch in a small room; but you might just been in a large conference room to.
Bigger font needed; perhaps make the graphic smaller to accomodate.
This seems to be light blue text on a medium blue background which fades to very light blue. This will be very hard to read by the audience, especially at a distance. This is a problem throught the presentation. It is also hard to read as document on screen for the same reason.
Scared is a very emotive word, it implies that people are incompetent. Also scare about what? Change to "Websites -Its OK to have concerns." Competent, intelligent, proactive people have "concerns" which they plan for, deal with and solve. On the other hand scared useless people run around like headless chickens.
There are just too many words here, it is a problem throughout the presentation. You could just use the white text "Branding" or cut the explanatory text down "Branding - more than a logo". If the speaker is prepared they do not need all these words. The audience needs to listen and not read - they can read the version with notes afterwards. You want them to actively listen, which means paying attention and taking notes.
Slide has 3 points: online marketing the new rocketr science etc Finishing with "Do you have all these skills in house?" (helps emphasise the their need for YOU)
List the items branding etc as the possible skills gaps. Again emphasises their need for YOU.
Call the slide "The Dilemma". If its small why am I fussed, why should I care?
Bullet poit as the two options: Outsource Hire Otherwise the options are lost in the text.
"What you really want" should be a sub-heading with the points following as bullet points.
"Wishful thinking - until now" Up to this point you have created the desire. Now start to build that you are the people to fulfill that desire\need.
Now you have introduced the audience to your logo on the title screen this size for the logo is fine.
Your website - Your wishes Using "your" should help them make the wish personal. Its about getting them to create th desire and the need in their heads.
After that use bullets, each "can ...." is a bullet
That agency is Viderity. Your website wishes have just come true.
Repetition in communication is very important. Up to now these have been fears, I suggested earlier replacing "scared" with "concerns". So make this "The answer to all your concerns."
Too many words, only use the white text and then trim it: Branding? - Our branding consultants Accessibility? We have section 508 compliance SEO needs Magic? Our SEO Wizards The speaker should have the words prepared to talk to the slides. It seems as if too many speaker notes are on the slide which implies a lack of confidence in the speaker.
Viderity - Your Fairy Godmother
These should be the slide and be bullet pointed.
These should be a new slide. These points are not really methods but project phases (which will have methods within them e.g. strategy workshop, user research studies, formative usability testing, programming and debugging etc).
All your slides for visual display should be this short
Should be "Viderity is the solution for:"
Just a last point: "Buy as much as you want, whatever you need."
With less text you can make the font bigger. Remember many people wear reading glasses and many don't because of forgetfulness or vanity.
Rather than just stare at logos the speaker should have a point for three of teh organisations (three points overall). The points should be really impressive concerns that you solved for those organisations that NO ONE else could or had dissappointed them over. Viderity did where others had failed.
You say clear navigation is important and why. But give NO EVIDENCE that Viderity did this here. How do you know that you achieved this for the customer? If you make claims back them up of face embarrassing questions at the end.
It is just too busy and complicated. Not an up front example of a good ecommerce design by the page on view. This would turn me off Viderity.
National Archives needed day in day out all year web sites. Viderity is the supplier trusted to do this for several of their sites because we ........
You created this website for the Presidential Libraries website. Well so what? This is just a throw away fact and looks like name dropping. If you got this prestigious engagement WHY DID YOU GET IT? What did Viderity show that othesr did not?
Consistency needed across browsers. Viderity solution - striking typography, content emphasised, accessible regardless of deivce (PC, netbook phone). For us design is the solution, not the problem.
As before bullets are needed. Here you make a claim and then back up with evidence. Excellent, ensure you do this with all example slides e.g. Parkway before.
There are too many example slides and you risk boring your audience. Remember they may be seeing a lot of pitches and who knows the airconditioning might have failed, they want more coffee or a bathroom break. Choose THREE examples, the power of three on the human memory is enormous. So 3 wonderful examples which exemplify the brilliance of Viderity.
Bullet points the points here In 1 month Viderity developed a full-feature mobile app Document zoom, search and sharing Showcasing 365 days
National Archives - Today's document Saves you repeating the organisation's name in the explanatory bullet points.
Bullerts here should be: Issue concern problem - an interactive challenge, how ro make historical milestone documents educationally exciting. Viderity SOLUTION - built functionality of panning, zooming, just like flicking the pages of a book.
Indent just alittle so the reader does not have to scan across the whole page. Should make reading easier. use the largest font you can.
Hello Viderity,
I liked the style of the site, especially the corners.
I did not like the amount of white space on some pages, I believe that these spaces could be used in a way more efficient.
Some parts of the picture seem a little blurry, it was found wanting in the quality of images.
However, outside these points, the design was good.
You have too much free time Jamie haha :D